Three Day Trips Within an Hour of Burlington

Travel anywhere in the world and guide books will offer you a zillion choices for what to do, see and eat. There are lots of options in the Burlington area and beyond, of course. But to cut down on your difficult choices, we've subjectively "curated" three excursions with suggestions for a physical activity and nourishment, before and after.

Burlington

Sport

There's another color in the spectrum of reds, oranges and yellows that make northern Vermont spectacular in September, October and November: blue. As in, the sapphire-blue of Lake Champlain, where temperatures can still linger in the balmy 70-degree range around Labor Day.

Want to get wet? It's easy to pick up a wetsuit, and anything else you might need, for stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) at WND&WVS, a Burlington surf shop that also offers tours, lessons and even SUP parties on lovely Lake Champlain. The Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center, open through October 31, has SUP rentals and lessons, as does Paddlesurf Champlain in Oakledge Park.

Prefer to paddle with your posterior in a boat? Reserve a canoe or kayak from Waterfront Boat Rentals at Burlington's Perkins Pier.

Heading north from Burlington, paddlers can check out Lone Rock, near North Beach, or venture further to peer at homes along Crescent Beach, the site of a former country club, and the long finger of Appletree Point. South from the Queen City is Redrocks Park, the Shelburne Shipyard and Rock Dunder, where, as legend has it, British ships fired at the tiny island during the American Revolution.

Or just stick close to shore and marvel at the changing maples. Keep an eye out for Champ, the prehistoric lake monster that supposedly inhabits these waters. On a quiet fall day, he may be your only company on Lake Champlain.

Food

Before getting your sport on, wake up to a bagel. Unlike the big cities, Burlington can't decide between fluffy New York style and dense Montréal style. The best of each is in the artsy South End of town, at Feldman's Bagels and Myer's Bagel Bakery, respectively.

At lunchtime, get a healthy sandwich on the go from 99 Asian Market Eatery. A banh mi — your choice of protein (including tofu), pickled veggies and cilantro on a crusty baguette — is a filling lunch for less than $5. A candy-colored bubble tea will help you cool down.

After a long day of physical exertion, you've saved up enough calories for an indulgent pasta dinner at the romantic grotto known as Trattoria Delia. Dig into a bowl of perfectly al dente tagliatelle with mushrooms and cream, paired with a carefully selected wine.

More in the mood for a burger and beer? There's no better place than the Farmhouse Tap & Grill, where local and hard-to-find brews make delicious friends with a creative roster of locavore burgers.

Stowe

Jeb Wallace-Brodeur

Bikers navigate the Stowe Recreation Path

Sport

One look at the 5.3-mile recreation path that winds through Stowe — over bridges, past art galleries and through quintessential Vermont farms — tells you that this town is serious about having fun on two wheels.

For a simple spin on the flat and family-friendly paved trail, find comfort hybrid bikes, kids' bikes, trailers and tandems at AJ's Ski & Sports, right on the rec path.

AJ's has road and mountain bikes, too. Road cyclists have 103 miles of routes to choose from around Stowe, with 29 of those miles paved; the remaining 74 are dirt, for easy mountain biking. For a 25-mile loop, head north on Stagecoach Road from Stowe to the town of Morrisville and Lake Lamoille before circling back on Randolph Road to Route 100. If you're feeling inspired by the fiery foliage, you can continue to Belvedere Pond before coming back through Smugglers' Notch.

Experienced mountain bikers can head straight for Kimmer's Trail, named one of the state's best by Bicycling magazine, or to Perry Hill for 15 miles of flowing singletrack. Meanwhile, the Trapp Family Lodge dedicates 13 miles of its renowned cross-country ski trail network to mountain biking and has rentals on-site. On a crisp fall day, the hills really do seem alive.

Food

If you're looking to carbo load before you head out, there's no place like the Dutch Pancake Café. The New York Times called the airy, stuffed pancakes "the world's most decadent breakfast." Among the 80 varieties, we're partial to the apple-bacon. The Trapp Family Lodge's DeliBakery serves house-brewed beers, Euro-style pastries and sandwiches including homemade bratwurst or beer-braised pulled pork.

If you've got nice clothes to change into, it's worth a short trip to Michael's on the Hill, just over the Waterbury border. There, Swiss chef Michael Kloeti shows his roots with dishes such as gnocchi and chocolate fondue.

For a more casual end to the day, the Roost at Topnotch Resort & Spa serves eclectic small plates, including pierogi and tempura chicken livers.

Waitsfield

Caleb Kenna

Hiking the Green Mountains

Sport

Wedged between the ski resorts of Sugarbush and Mad River Glen, the town of Waitsfield is an ideal base camp for getting into the Green Mountains on foot. Find hiking maps, boots, Vermont-made Darn Tough socks, Patagonia technical wear and more at Clearwater Sports in Waitsfield. The Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce in the General Wait House on Route 100 also sells the Mad River Valley Trail Map, which includes 23 options for outings.

Among the best for families with young children is the Mad River Greenway, a flat, 1.3-mile out-and-back section of the Mad River Path that follows the eponymous river and ends at a picnic-perfect gazebo. Should the snow fly early, it's an ideal snowshoeing spot, too.

Ready for something steeper and longer? Try the 5.2-mile round-trip hike up to the bare summit of 3168-foot Burnt Rock Mountain for superior views of fall finery around Camel's Hump and beyond. Look out for a glacial pothole near the halfway point — it's one of the largest in New England.

The Burnt Rock traces a section of the Long Trail, a 272-mile footpath that runs the length of the state and represents the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the country. You'll find another section beginning at the Appalachian Gap, scrambling up the steep Stark's Wall and eventually reaching the summit of General Stark Mountain, home to the legendary Mad River Glen ski area. The peak is named for a Revolutionary War hero who gave New Hampshire its motto "Live Free or Die."

Food

Passing by verdant fields may whet your appetite for a picnic of locally produced foods. Pick up house-cured meats, crusty levain bread, homemade pickles and cheese from the von Trapp Farmstead at Bridge Street Butchery, or have owner Jeff Lynn make you a sandwich.

Further up Route 100, settle in for tacos, tamales or tortas at the Mad Taco, which also feeds beer geeks at Waterbury's Blackback Pub.

If you're staying in Waterbury, try the burgers, smoked barbecue and sweet duck-fat zeppoli at Prohibition Pig, along with a creative cocktail.

Feeling more formal? A tasting menu of avant-garde fare under the soaring ceilings of the Common Man in Waitsfield is surely in order. Trust chef Adam Longworth to prepare some of the most creative fish you've ever tasted.

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